The Report Writing Rabbit Hole
The Report Writing Rabbit Hole
Let’s talk about something that tends to stress out myofunctional therapists: writing reports.
There’s so much mystery and debate around how to do it, what to include, who it’s for, and how much time it should take. And let me tell you — I’ve been there. Deep in the weeds, writing long, meticulous reports trying to make sure I was covering all the bases.
And I mean long. Six. Page. Reports.
That is not a typo.
10/10 do not recommend.
When I Started, Reports Were Everything
When I first started, I felt like I had to prove the value of what I was offering. My reports became my way of documenting findings, justifying therapy, and communicating to both patients and providers.
Here’s what my original reports looked like:
Page 1: patient symptoms + health history
Page 2: my clinical observations and tests
Page 3: photos
Page 4: layman’s explanation of findings
Page 5: program overview, collaborative needs, recommendations
Page 6: financial agreement
It was intense. Detailed. Polished. Exhausting.
Did it look impressive? Sure.
Did a few science-minded patients appreciate it? Yes.
Did some patients not even look at it? I'm sure.
Did I need to spend that much time on every single report? Absolutely not.
Most patients just wanted to know: “What’s going on, and how do we fix it?” And honestly, those six pages didn’t make or break whether someone signed on for therapy.
So eventually, I asked myself:
Who is this report even for?
Who Are Reports Really For?
That’s the question I started asking myself:
Who is this report serving?
When I was just starting, it served everyone — or at least I tried to make it that way. I wanted it to be:
A documentation tool for me
A communication tool for providers
An educational handout for patients
But trying to make one document serve all three roles meant I was working overtime, and no one was actually getting what they needed in a way that was digestible.
What I Do Now
Now, after building experience and systems that actually support my workflow, I do something completely different.
I don’t write reports anymore — not in the traditional sense.
Instead, I’ve created an assessment sheet that I complete during the initial appointment. It includes:
the patient’s concerns + symptoms
my observations
therapy recommendations
other providers involved
cost and estimated time
I talk through this form with the patient in real time. They leave the appointment with their questions answered, a copy of the assessment in hand, and a clear understanding of what’s going on and how I can help.
As for providers? They get a brief, personalized letter with the information they need to know. That’s it. That’s all my providers want, so that's what works best for me and my practice.
Let It Evolve
Here’s what I’ve learned through trial, error, and way too many late nights spent formatting:
You don’t have to prove your value with a long report.
The right tools (and the right conversations) are often more impactful than a six-page document.
The purpose of your reports — and whether you even need them — can evolve as your practice grows. It can evolve as you grow.
So ask yourself:
Is this report for you, your patient, or a provider?
Is it a referral tool? A patient guide? A record? All of the above?
Whatever the answer is now, it might change as your confidence and clarity grow. And that’s not only okay — it’s expected.
Just promise me one thing:
Don’t write six-page papers just because you think it gives worth to what you’re offering.
You bring the value — your report doesn’t have to prove it.
For help using Canva, text documents and other tools for report writing and photo compilations: check out the Grow Series Workshop #4: Report Writing + Photo Grids
For access to various report templates and photo grid tools, access MyoBloom's Clinician Documentation section of the Essentials Package Directory.
